₦airaland Forum

Odunayaw, here's a water activity for you!

AskiaHarem:
You are currently being the embodiment of this and it’s sad.

jl115:
The worst thing anyone can do is look at these figures at face value without understanding the context behind them...

I wouldn't bother, if I were you. Faithful007 reminded me of something I'd almost forgotten: not every interaction here is conducted in good faith.

Exnavyboy62:
Those who leave their home country to settle in a foreign country are called….. Immigrants

Those who came to South Africa as Christian missionaries or military troops of the Royal Crown or English teachers or whatsoever they were, as far back as 1652 and later settled down there till date were the…….. British

British + Immigrants = British Immigrants
You are welcome

Exnavyboy62:
The same way British Immigrants returned ownership of the land to the black native South Africans and allowed them to enjoy their fundamental rights that was once violated, while the Black Native South Africans happily let the British immigrants stay and live with them peacefully till date.

Correction:
1) white South Africans are not British immigrants, and they did not allow anybody any rights; black South Africans, and a few white South Africans, fought for equal rights;
2) black South Africans did not "let" white South Africans stay as some favour; the oldest liberation movement in Africa has always said, "South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white".
3) black Saffers who had their land forcibly taken could go through the restitution process and their claims could be settled through the govt buying back their land from current owners and giving it back. A lot of people opted for cash.

People in other parts of Africa, because of their recent history of colonization, forget that white South Africans have been here since 1652, and their position is exactly the same as other Europeans who went to settle in the US, Canada, South America, Australia.

jl115:
"One man. one vote" is a very simple phrase that most normal humans can understand as a call for democracy in said country, When you say "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" what exactly happens to Israel?? does it cease to exist? are you changing its name?

1) Exactly my point, a simple phrase being twisted by opponents into something threatening; and
2) I've told you what decent level-headed people mean with reference to Palestine. What is so difficult to grasp about one democratic state with equal rights for all? Whether one calls it Israel/Palestine or whatever, the historic geographical area of Palestine -without special status for ethno-religious considerations.

Now, there's an argument to be had whether that ideal is likely, with the preponderance of zealots and extremists on both sides. But that's not the argument you're offering, seemingly only stuck on the smears and twisting of phrases from one side.

NabiAsli:
Thank God you know who you are..

4 monikers later and that's still the best you can do? Your last 404 must have been rabid.

NabiAsli:
There is this street food in South Africa call Smiley, it is a full goat head that is cooked whole, so each time you see those three emojis know that the person behind it is an ewu Gambia

And it's a sheep's head, not goat, you bottom feeder!

AskiaHarem:
……

.

Faithful007:
You're free stand for whatever you believe in, and I also by no means support murder of innocents. However, please base your statements an actual knowledge and not these delusions. This is the same problem I do have with Blacks in the US, who feels Africans are stupid for having divergent opinions.

1. Nobody wants 'A free Palestine, with equal rights for all, from the river to the sea!'. Hamas does not want it, Palestine doesn't. Israel doesn't either. In fact, making this statement means you have no knowledge of the level of bloodshed and insurgencies that happened between Jews and Arabs when there were 'equal rights' during the Ottoman empire, World war 1, then 2 to the end of British Palestine. If you think it all started in 1948, then you're already brainwashed. At some point Jews even fought the British for Independence and Britian prevented Jews from moving to Israel and jailed thousands for doing so, just to please Arab nationalists, indirectly contributing to the holocaust. Even with both Jews and Arabs under colonial rule, there was already enough bloodshed. Then the Jerusalem Blockade by Palestinian Arabs, after the UN vote for an international Jerusalem even though Jews had dominated Jerusalem since the 17th century.

2. Most Palestinians see the conflict as religious. This is being obscured for two main reasons. First, most far-left groups evolved from racial injustice and have little knowledge and experience with tribal/religiously charged conflicts. This is the same reason they do not talk on conflicts in Africa, except a foreign power is involved. Even if a foreign power isn't involved, they try to indict one with 'evidence'. The left-wing political ideology works from a racial template and falls apart when that racial context is removed. Second reason is that pro-Palestinian propaganda likes it that way, cause it puts Israel as the enemy.

I really can't be bothered to respond to this word salad.

I've derailed the thread long enough.
Bringing it back on topic, still waiting...

Faithful007:
I'll get back on this

jl115:
Yeah I don't agree sorry

You can disagree all you want, doesn't change the fact of what the Palestinians and those of us in solidarity with their Struggle, understand what we mean by that slogan.
Some of us still remember how in SA, "One man, one vote", was falsely twisted by the Apartheid regime and its supporters, as a call for the eradication of white South Africans and the imposition of a racial dictatorship.
Occupiers everywhere, have always sought to demonise the resistance of the occupied.

jl115:
That's not what that phrase implies...

According to whom? Just because Zionists use it in a nefarious way as part of their Greater Israel land grab, does not mean Palestinians use it the same way, in the opposite direction.
A free Palestine, with equal rights for all, from the river to the sea!

jl115:
So no Israel? and people wonder why the Jews are the way they are

Why would anybody be threatened by 1 state with equal rights for all?

AskiaHarem:
I’m all for a free Palestine as well as other similar situations around the globe and all; but what about the Sahrawai or some of those Congolese separatists? It’s a lot closer to home and is fundamentally the same issue. South Africa was the 2nd most vocal anfter Algeria on the Western Sahara situation but now you all have just abandoned them.

Also do Palestinians care this much about Africa?

How have we abandoned Western Sahara?
We, unlike some who accepted Moroccan trinkets, stand for principle, and even host a Sahrawi embassy in Pretoria.

What do I care what Palestinians think about Africa? I know what they think about South Africa.

Introducing Julia Sebutinde of Uganda, who, alone decided for Israel even when the Israeli judge finds against it!
What a disgrace to the law and humanity!

Floky215:
You are completely on your own..!!

...last.

...3...

...2....

From Mandela Square in Ramallah, to Cape Town, all of us, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus etc, agnostics and non-believers alike declare for the world to hear:
Unapologetically and for equality, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!

I often wonder if the people writing this stuff, ever go back and take stock:

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/01/whats-stake-africa-2024?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=africa&utm_content=2024&fbclid=IwAR38d8fV4eo9SXD1xdgysjHKZFvyb3BtmAv6bzqeApQnt9ML4rJjRo4F0ec

What’s at stake for Africa in 2024?
From a year of elections, to multiple summits, as well as conflict hotspots and debt burdens, 2024 will bring mixed fortunes for the African continent.

EXPERT COMMENT

Dr Alex Vines OBE
Research Director; Director, Africa Programme

Africa in 2024 will be the second fastest-growing economic region in the world (after Asia) at 4 per cent, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but behind the headline figure is a less auspicious reality.

Fresh conflict, more military coups, the renewed Israel–Gaza conflict and the lingering Russia–Ukraine war are contributing to stifling better growth across the continent.

Many African states were already suffering due to slow post-COVID-19 recovery, climate change shocks, increased food insecurity, political instability, weak global growth and high interest rates. 33 of the continent’s states are classified as least developed. These economic shocks have pushed an estimated 55 million people into poverty since 2020 and reversed more than two decades of progress in poverty reduction.

It is not all bad news. South Africa is set to overtake Nigeria and Egypt as the continent’s largest economy in 2024, the IMF predicts. Some African regions are also expected to outperform others. East Africa, once again, is expected to perform better – location, human and physical infrastructure and politics have contributed to this trend.

Debt burdens
Debate over African debt will be prominent in 2024. Elevated interest rates and a stronger dollar make it more expensive for African countries to service dollar-denominated debt, something that has pushed a number of countries into further debt distress.

At the beginning of 2024, nine African states are in debt distress, a further 15 are at high risk and 14 at moderate risk. Zambia and Ghana defaulted on their debts, joined recently by Ethiopia.

Elevated interest rates and a stronger dollar make it more expensive for African countries to service dollar-denominated debt.

A pan-African payment system that will allow African nations to trade among themselves, using their own currencies, is however, gaining momentum. This pan-African Payment and Settlement System, developed by Afreximbank, is hosted by Kenya. All central banks are expected to join by the end of 2024, followed by many commercial banks by the end of 2025.

Commodities
The focus on accessing strategic and critical minerals from Africa, and protecting their supply chains, will continue to be the focus of foreign powers. Africa is rich in strategic minerals, all essential for modern technologies.

This year will see the first full year of operation of the upgraded Lobito Corridor in Angola, a US and EU-backed rail project which will ultimately connect the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia’s mineral deposits to the Atlantic coast.

Due to increased demand and prices, some African governments will continue to review their contracts with mining companies and seek additional value. Major contract renegotiations are ongoing in Botswana and DRC, and there are new mining regulations in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Conflict hotspots
Worsening political instability in parts of the continent, exemplified by the nine military coups since 2020, including in Gabon and Niger in 2023, have sharpened focus on the fragility of constitutional rule. Countries already under military leadership are increasingly unstable, such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and further coups are possible in them.

The Sahelian region will continue to be a terrorism epicentre in 2024. In 2023, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 48 per cent of global deaths from terrorism. Attacks have spread beyond historical hotspots such as the Sahel and the Horn of Africa to Southern Africa and the coastal regions of West Africa. Prolonged conflicts, poor rule of law, human rights abuses, discrimination, exclusion and unemployment have contributed to this crisis.

In 2023, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 48 per cent of global deaths from terrorism.

Other conflict hotspots will continue to be of concern in 2024, particularly eastern DRC, northern Mozambique, parts of Cameroon and Somalia, and another flare-up in Ethiopia is possible. Sudan’s armed conflict could evolve towards a de facto partition of the country.

Elections
This is a record year for elections globally and Africa will have 17 national presidential and/or legislative polls.

A December 2023 referendum to approve a new constitution for Chad, after nearly three years of transition from military rule, is expected to pave the way for transitional president Mahamat Déby to run for president in the 2024 national elections.

In the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Botswana, Comoros, Mauritius, Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa will go to the polls and in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ghana, possibly Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Togo. In Burkina Faso and Mali, a transition from military rule remains uncertain as their juntas keep postponing them.

The elections that will be most scrutinized will be Mozambique, which will have a new president (the incumbent is stepping down), and South Africa, where all eyes are on whether the ruling ANC can win an outright majority.

Senegal’s presidential elections in February will be fiercely contested and December’s in Ghana might result in the defeat of the National Patriotic Party and the return of ex-president John Mahama and his National Democratic Party to power.

Algeria’s and Tunisia’s elections will draw attention, elections in the Comoros, Mauritania, Rwanda and possibly South Sudan are expected to return their incumbents.

Multiple summits
This will be a busy year of international summits for Africa’s leaders. In November 2023, the first Saudi Arabia–Africa summit was hosted in Riyadh, the latest in a growing list of ‘Africa+1’ summits. It attracted over 50 leaders, in comparison to the second Russia –Africa summit in St Petersburg in August 2023, which attracted 17 leaders. Like Russia, though, Saudi Arabia invited countries suspended from the AU.

Will Beijing invite Africa’s juntas to the ninth Forum on China–Africa Cooperation in 2024? This comes as new data shows its lending to Africa has fallen to its lowest level in almost two decades.

International engagement with Africa will increase in 2024, and many African states welcome this and are looking to diversify their global partnerships or revive old ones.

This year will see an increased pace of forum shopping. A second UK–African Investment Summit in London is scheduled for May 2024 and 25 governments have been invited.

An Italy–Africa conference will be held in early 2024 and Rome, which is president of the G7, has pledged to make the continent a central theme while it is at the helm.

The next Korea–Africa Summit will be held in June 2024 and New Delhi has announced its next triennial India–Africa Forum Summit is planned for 2024.

Under India’s G20 presidency, in August 2023, the AU joined the organization and has the same status as the EU, previously the only regional bloc with a full membership. Its previous designation was ‘invited international organization’.

From January 2024, BRICS has expanded to include two African nations — Egypt (representing Africa and the Arab world) and Ethiopia (headquarters of the AU).

Celso Amorim, a special advisor to Brazil’s presidency on international affairs, said Africa would be central to Brazil’s foreign policy in 2024. Brazil is the chair of the G20 in 2024.

International engagement with Africa will increase in 2024, and many African states welcome this and are looking to diversify their global partnerships or revive old ones.

Managing how to promote national, regional and continental priorities with the growing number of foreign suitors will require African states to prioritize better and could result in having to make difficult choices, more often.

A version of this article was originally published by the Mail & Guardian newspaper.

GreenandGold:
Did you just put "windless" and "Cape" in the same sentence?

I have been accused of doing "white" things, but that is extreme for my standards.

Odunayaw:
Your second sentence was kind of my thoughts

I'm an official patron of the Philharmonic, and on the fund-raising committee of Cape Town Opera!

Used to drive everybody nuts at boarding school, when playing my "old people" jazz and orchestral music!

Off-topic

GreenandGold, another of those Cape windless summer evenings, outdoors at Maynardville, with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra.

Faithful007:
First of all, US is not dancing to the tune of Israel. Israel is the only trusted ally we have in ME. That's why things are the way they are.

[sarc]I'm sure the crew and family of the USS Liberty take comfort in such naive platitudes.[/sarc]

I mean what do you call it when an Israeli prime minister (Netanyahu) decides to circumvent a US president (Obama) by approaching directly the GOP in Congress to stymie official US policy he finds obstreperous?

Impolite, but in the real world we call that "tail wagging the dog!

Or as Clinton so pungently said after a similar encounter with Netanyahu, "“Who the f**k does he think he is?, “Who’s the f**king superpower here?""

Odunayaw:
I don't see how more guns helps. This are not petty robbers. Beside it is one thing to have a gun and another thing to be skilled with it.

Also, declaring marshal law is one of the problems I point out often. Which is, our security apparatus adopt a reactionary approach to their job and that's why we have multiple Operation so-so around the country.

Security is a holistic approach

This, so much this!

MiddleDimension:
Do you use that language in Msanzi too or did you learn it here, ''if you know, you know''?

My Naija sojourns being put to good use.

Our international sports people have a somewhat related saying, when they beat the odds: "Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie".
Meaning, "They don't know what we know".

Stormtrooper11:
That's my other account chief. Thanks. What about joint military training exercises?

JOps handles all of that.

wigan56:
good day, chiefs Lurker4long and Jln115. Sorry for bothering you guys. Wanted to ask if there is a specific department responsible for joint military operations in SA. Thanks.

Yes, the Joint Operations Division, responsible for all operations, exercises and Special Forces.
http://www.jops.mil.za/Pages/Home.aspx

!